Mammon’s new henchman, the Fallen that arrived in a swarm of locusts steps forward along with the guard that has accompanied Mammon. His eyes narrow on our hiding place as if he can see through all the many discarded things to us, “Step forward, trespassers! Now! You are surrounded. If you don’t you will bear the wrath of Beelzebub, sworn ally of Mammon. Show yourselves!”
Daxell swears, “Hell’s saints! Stand behind me and hide Poppy.” Turning back to Mammon and his growing alliance, Daxell steps forward, a swagger to his gait, and he draws out, “So? Gluttony? You have sided with Mammon? Not surprising. Not in the least. You do realize that you will all fail in your endeavor to rule The Underworld. Don’t you?” Daxell counters as he steps free and clear of our hiding place, striding forward as if he hasn’t a care in the world.
Nyx is the first to respond, “Oh dear … You actually mated her. I am somewhat surprised by that. I never figured you to be the type to be … What is the term? Oh yes, tied down?” Turning her wickedly beautiful face to me, she addresses me, “So? Lillie? Here we are. Full circle. I remember telling you that you were just a pawn.” Her mocking laughter rings out around us, “Thank you. You have fulfilled your purpose. Although, I was very disappointed when I realized that no sooner than you arrived, you lost our Trojan horse. How careless of you,” she taunts. “I trust that the same cannot be said of the bracelet that I bestowed on you?” Her smile is sweet and deceptive, her eyes glittering in malice at the implication. Turning to the trembling demon before her, she demands, “I will have that bag. NOW!”
He happily obliges. He picks up the ruined backpack and gingerly hands it to his new mistress before turning back to me. His soulless black eyes glare back at me as if I’m to blame for losing his most prized possession. Then he turns back to Nyx, “What does its holds, mistress?” His voice is reverent and full of anticipation.
Nyx holds the bag up and looks directly in my eyes, “What did I tell you, Lillie? You were a distraction, and here we are.” She laughs, mocking me, and unzips the bag and pulls the insides out. Then she fumbles with what looks like a hidden compartment and finds another zipper. She slides her hand inside and snakes out the hidden whip. Smiling in triumph, she viciously snaps the whip in the demon’s direction, the one that disobeyed her initially. The whip cracks loudly over his leathery skin and he shrieks in pain. The poor thing shrinks back away from the abuse. Smiling at me, she says, “It’s your turn, love. I have what I came for, thank you for providing the diversion.”
Before she can do anything further, Lucifer appears out of nowhere. “Mammon,” he growls, “Control your whore.”
Mammon snarls, “Enough, Lucifer! She is no whore. You will show her respect! You have led the Fallen into complacency and degradation. I will lead our people into a new age! It is time for change!”
Lucifer stalks forward. With each step, he grows larger and more menacing until his demon form materializes in it’s large and intimidating form, his barbed tail swishing in agitation, “A new age?!” He demands. “You know nothing. You are lost in your greed and now you threaten everything. That whip was never to be brought to this realm and you know why. Hand it over! I entrusted it to you, Mammon. You swore an oath to make sure that this relic was never brought to this realm, and yet here we are, brother, you defying my decree.” Luc stares down his Fallen brethren and I instinctively back away.
Hades demons, this is bad. This is not going to end well.
Mammon chuckles, “Make me.” His dare rumbles across the realm. A declaration of what is to come. “I’m done being your lackey, Luc. Nyx and I? We are meant for more than just this.” With those words, they all step into the swirling vortex behind them. Nyx turns back, she smirks at me before the portal shrinks to nothing and is gone with a loud popping sound.
Lucifer turns back to us, hellfire burning bright in his intense eyes. “Go,” he commands, “Now, before I change my mind, Daxell!”
“We need a portal, Luc!” Daxell demands.
“No. You don’t. I just lifted the ban on traveling between the realms. Not that it has done any good. That she-bitch has found a way around my ban. You have ascended, Daxell, you can trace anywhere that you have been.” Realization dawns in his demon eyes. Looking at me, he cocks his head and asks, “You didn’t tell him?”
Hating him for calling me out on my secret suspicion, I look at Daxell and say, “You’ve been able to trace since the moment we ascended.”
“Well. Fuck.”
“I really hate you, Luc,” I hiss under my breath.
He chuckles, the sound dark and menacing, “As it should be. Now go. I need to do damage control. I need to see if I can stop what they are about to do. Things are about to get interesting.”
43
Pissed Doesn’t Even Cover It
(Daxell)
"Wait. What about the charges against Lillie? Do they still stand?” I demand of Luc.
“The charges against her are no longer valid. Mammon has shown his true colors. Why do you think that I showed up when I did? Now go. I have work to do. I will come to you in Faerie as soon as I can.”
Nodding, I turn back to Lillie and growl, “Tell me what I need to do.”
Turning to Poppy, she says, “Go back to the Keep. We will be right behind you.” Poppy nods, thinking it best to not say a word, she blinks out of sight. Lillie turns to me and
